Hamas offers amnesty to 'Israel collaborators'

Government in Gaza says two-month amnesty period meant to ensure that 'all those who betrayed their people and homeland get on the right track.' Interior ministry: We know the malignant tricks Israel uses to blackmail collaborators and trick them

After executing
two Gaza residents last month, the Hamas
government on Sunday announced a period of amnesty for Palestinians "who have collaborated with Israeli security forces" during which they can turn themselves in exchange for a pardon.

It remains unclear whether the "collaborators" will be granted a full pardon or relatively light sentences.

The amnesty period will last from May 8 - July 10 and is meant to "protect the Palestinian people," Hamas Interior Ministry spokesman Ihab Al-Ghussein said.

"We took the step after the two collaborators were executed after being found guilty. This is to ensure that all those who betrayed their people and homeland get on the right track. We know the malignant tricks Israel uses to blackmail collaborators and trick them," he added.

For the next two months, Gaza police stations and security service headquarters will be open 24 hours, Al-Ghussein was quoted by the Ma'an News Agency as saying. Those "who want to announce their repentance," he said, should go to their clan sheikhs and other local officials to coordinate with police and security services.

Al-Ghussein explained that anyone found guilty of collaborating with Israel after the amnesty period ends "will face the utmost punishment according to the law."

According to Ma'an, the Al-Majd Info website reported that collaborators have already begun coming forward to "exchange information for amnesty."

"One collaborator revealed that his Shin Bet (handler) asked him to continue collecting information, but the (collaborator) told the (handler) that he expected death at any moment because Gaza security services intensified efforts to expose and punish collaborators," the Al-Majd report said.

Al-Ghussein added that "collaborators do not necessarily need to turn themselves in to security services. Instead, they can go to resistance factions or clerics to seek advice on how to avoid further Israeli traps."

Palestinian human rights groups condemned the executions, saying the two men who were killed did not get a fair trial and that the executions constituted a "blatant" human rights violation.